Safety tip sheets

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July 2013

07/31/2013

Every bride wants her wedding day to be memorable; for me, that means hosting my big day at a beautiful Victorian estate. I toured several mansions in Massachusetts before choosing the venue for my upcoming wedding, a national historic landmark designed in 1793 that features expansive lawns, lush gardens, gazebos, and greenhouses.

On my first visit there, as I floated down the grand staircase, imagining myself gracefully navigating those same stairs in high heels and a full-length dress on my wedding day, the mansion’s caretaker shared some important details with me. She didn’t focus on the ballroom’s Federal Period architecture, the antique-filled parlors, or the pine paneling in the library and music room but on how the building could be enjoyed while the safety of the guests is maintained.

We talked about candles. She told me that I would have to comply with fire safety regulations. I wouldn’t be permitted to use traditional candles inside the building, on the veranda, or on the grounds, but I would be allowed to use battery-operated candles. My guest list includes several people with disabilities. I was relieved to hear that the building is accessible and has an accessible restroom. The caretaker touched on escape planning too. Only 65 people would be permitted in the ballroom for the reception’s sit-down meal because of life safety codes.

When I went home that day, I pulled out my bridal checklist that helps me remember to take care of important tasks. I was pleased to add “fire and life safety considerations” to the top of the list and give it a great big checkmark.

Here's an NFPA history lesson: the requirement for smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings made its debut in the 1976 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®. Only one smoke "detector" (as they were referred to in this edition of the code) was required, and its location wasn't specified in the code.

In the latest issue of NFPA Journal, columnist Chip Carson discusses how the Life Safety Code has continually expanded the number of smoke alarms required in homes, which has contributed to a decline in civilian fire deaths since 1976.

"Even so, there is more work to do," says Carson. "NFPA data indicates that more than four million households in the U.S. remain unprotected. Other studies have found that in some high-risk neighborhoods more than 75 percent of homes do not have working smoke alarms."

Read Carson's suggested solutions to this problem in the latest edition of Journal.

07/29/2013

The history of Fire Prevention Week is very interesting. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire
Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has
been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9
falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's
Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running
public health and safety observance on record. The President of the
United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national
observance during that week every year since 1925.Wow!

As NFPA gears up for Fire Prevention Week 2013, Prevent Kitchen Fires, I read through the themes of the past. Here are just a few:

Although the campaign themes have wording we might not use today, the general theme remains the same since 1922. Fire Prevention is all encompassing. We need everyone from the fire service, teachers, parents and children to keep people safe from fire. Whether you are a local business looking to educate staff on kitchen safety, classroom teachers educating students on what to do if the smoke alarms sounds or firefighters giving a presentation to older adults in the community, the Fire Prevention Week web site has information and tools for everyone.

We sure have a lot of work to do change the behavior of people cooking on the stove top. A kitchen was destroyed in Marietta, PA from a fire that a bystander at the scene said stared on the stovetop. Fire Prevention Week is getting closer. It’s time to begin planning how you will reach to your residents with important kitchen safety messages.

Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short time, turn off the stove.

Be alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.

If you have a cooking fire, just get outside and call 9-1-1.

If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.

Keep a lid nearby by when you’re cooking to smother a small grease fire. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

07/26/2013

Stop, Drop, and Roll is so recognizable to the public, Bonefish Grill recently used it in the subject line of a recent e-mail promotion. Thanks to Dick Gann, Montgomery Village, MD for sharing this with us.

One of my friends just bought a townhouse and I couldn’t
wait to go over and get the grand tour.
As she was walking me through her new place I kept pointing out and
commenting on all of the fire safety equipment.
Of course I got some funny looks but she is well aware of my career and passion for fire safety. As I was climbing up into the attic, she said, “It’s even has
sprinklers up there, April. Isn’t that
awesome?”.

I gave my speech about making sure she tests all of her
smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly. Smoke alarms that
are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths
and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a
reported fire in half.

Make sure your loved ones are safe in their
homes by reminding them to install
smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure
that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are
required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must
be interconnected.

Check
out NFPA’s smoke alarm section to find information on basic smoke alarm
safety tips and much more. Call your
loved ones today and get them to test their smoke alarms. It could save a life.

Many children are attending camp this summer. Kids are swimming, playing sports, and
learning to ride horses. The luckiest
ones (sorry to let my bias show) are the children who are attending one of the
many safety camps around the country. I
first heard about the safety camp model when an article about a middle school
student named Caroline from Rosemount, Minnesota caught my eye. Caroline, was home alone when a fire started
in her house after a lightning strike. She acted quickly and later received kudos for
her calm, appropriate response. She told
fire fighters she learned how to react to the emergency at Safety Camp. Great job, Caroline, and congrats to the
Rosemount Parks and Recreation department for having a positive impact! We love to hear about these Fire Safety Hero
Stories.

I was intrigued by the idea of a Safety Camp. An internet search led me to a variety of
other communities who offer similar programs.
The camps run from 1 or 2 days to week long events and are often run by collaborations
between municipal groups such as parks and recreation, fire, and police
departments. The sessions cover a range of
topics and help campers develop skills in a variety of safety areas including
fire, swimming, bike & pedestrian, weather, stranger danger, first aid, and
bully prevention. Each program I viewed put their own twist on the camp to tailor it to the community needs.

I love this idea! Local camps provide a great setting to help
children develop safety skills with fun and interactive activities. If you don’t already have one in your area,
talk to your local Parks and Recreation department or public safety officials
about the possibility of bringing a safety camp to your community. NFPA has a wealth of resources available for
public safety educators to help programs run smoothly. Families and educators can also refer to our
safety tip sheets to assist in teaching youngsters new safety skills. We’d love to hear from you! Let us know about your safety camp or other
unique safety programs in your area.

07/24/2013

Each year NFPA challenges our blog readers to join the conversation and add to our list of “songs that include the words fire or burn.” The challenge is on. I’ve made my own list of 10 songs and invite you to add to the list. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is Prevent Kitchen Fires. Can you think of any songs about the kitchen or cooking? I’ve included links for all my songs so you can enjoy the music and get your creativity going. Let’s see how many songs you can add to my list!

You can make this a Fire Prevention Week activity in your community. During your Open House, invite attendees to add to your list of songs. Make it more challenging – the person adding the song must sing a few lines. Have a raffle with the names of everyone who added to the list. Contact a local restaurant or retail store for gift certificates for your raffle. Of course, Fire Prevention Week in a Box should be part of your event. Order today so you have your materials in time for Fire Prevention Week.

Now, don’t forget my challenge! How many songs can you add to my list?

The 2013 recipient of the Rolf H. Jensen Memorial Public Education Grant, the Springfield Fire Department, Springfield, Massachusetts, is featured in the July/August issue of NFPA Journal. In the Journal’s “Outreach” column, I talk about the targeted public education program the fire department launched as part of its effort to provide adequate fire protection for residents in the face of an economic downturn.

I understand the struggles of Springfield because of the challenges faced by the fire department in my hometown, Bridgeport, Connecticut. It’s a story that’s being repeated in cities and towns–not just in New England–but across the country.

07/23/2013

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public of recent burn incidents associated with spray sunscreens. There have already been five separate incidents in which people who had applied this product and were near an open flame--cigarette, grill, citronella candle, for example--suffered significant burns requiring medical attention. In each case, the burns occurred after the sunscreen had been applied.

While the products leading to burns have been voluntarily recalled, many other sunscreen products contain flammable ingredients, prompting the FDA to issue new safety precautions on these products. For instance, if you're anywhere near a flame source, avoid any product with a flammability warning and choose a nonflammable alternative.